Chatted with two older women – one with a strong accent I could barely understand – that were leaving the motel at the same time I was packing stuff on the bike. Just the usual chit-chat, ending with ride safe.
It’s funny how many people are curious and wondered about this trip I’m doing. Obviously it’s not common to see people do that, and most people I talk to say that either they’re amazed or that they dream about doing the same, one day. My recommendation then is, don’t do it alone. I’m being feeling the loneliness a lot lately. Sometimes I strike a conversation with some people, and it’s great to exchange views on the trip or anything else, but most of the time, I’m just there riding alone, seeing stuff that I can’t share instantly, be amazed with someone living the same dream in the same moment. Makes me feel sad.
This trip wasn’t supposed to be about doing some kind of tourism. It was about meeting people, about exchanging ideas, building things. I won’t deny there was a strong part of curiosity in it, about seeing how places were similar and different, but being a tourist around the states has never been my primary purpose. Purpose was people. And I have been frequently feeling it’s been a fail in that respect.
Anyways. Life goes on.
So, left Branson and took the same kind of roads that led me to that city, with many twisties, going through tiny villages, slowing down at school signs. I started noticing these roads were built with some lateral tilt in corners, possibly to assist in getting the curve with a faster speed. Felt like on a race track 🙂 – but I didn’t run, because I was still remembering the gravel in some corners from the day before…
So I reached the Memphis KOA a bit before sunset, mounted the tent, and took the trip to downtown Memphis, where I parked at the Westin parking, for $15 bucks for 6 hours or so – it was that or one hour. Much more than I hoped to pay to park my bike, but I couldn’t find any cheaper place… When you think of it, that’s ridiculous, paying a third of the price of a (cheap) motel room to park your car or bike… but do we have a choice? getting a fine or even worse getting towed has a far greater cost…
So here are a few pictures of Beale Street, the famous main street in Memphis.
I quickly listened to some music, but nothing was really were convincing and I ended at a tiny Starbucks nearby, slightly nervous at the idea of using my macbook – Memphis is supposed to be the 3rd city in the states in crime ratings – but a guy there was using his, so I supposed it was safe (although he was kind of hidden behind a pillar…)
